Quick Guide to Order Picking Methods & Productivity

Does your order picking productivity stack up against industry averages?

When you are working on an order picking strategy, knowing the metrics for picking rates may be helpful. Labor productivity is the key to any warehousing or order picking operation, since labor tends to be the largest single cost factor in these operations. It’s critical to understand production rates for processes that absorb labor hours, energy, money, and time.

Labor productivity metrics can vary based on specific operations in a warehouse or shipping facility, including receiving, put-away, replenishment, picking, and shipping (these factors often affect each other, which can further complicate things). The labor rates presented here are based on a cross section of analysis projects performed by Carter & Burgess. They may not apply directly to your operation, but they are a good foundation for understanding how various technologies, processes, and how your operation might perform with a variety of picking methods.

Full pallet picking using counterbalance truck from bulk floor storage

50 pallets

Full pallet picking using counterbalance truck from pallet rack

65 pallets

The Most Important Order Picking Metrics: Your Own

By employing your own metrics, and by using timely feedback from employees, you can often make significant improvements without large capital investment. Other factors, such as facility layout, individual employee productivity, and process improvements can also weigh heavily on actual results.